What NASA needs from us

1
What NASA needs from us?

• Presented to the WorkshopVOs in Space and Solar
  Physics
• 27-29 October 2004
• Chuck Holmes Joe Bredekamp
• Science Mission Directorate
• March 26, 2003

2
Vision for the LWS Data Environment

• Report and Recommendations of the LWS Data
  System Planning Team, Winter, 2002.
• The LWS data environment
• Will be based on existing services and evolve in
  response to user needs.
• Will allow for the selective inclusion of
  essential data sets and modeling from other
  sources.
• Requires science participation in data
  managementthe environment will be distributed
  and virtual.
• Will have peer-reviewed process for elements of
  the environment.
• Begin now integral to the Target Research
  Technology program.

3
Authors Extensions to the Vision

• LWS data environment needs to support all SEC
  research activities and programs.
• The Right Amount of Glue sets the philosophy.
• J.B. Gurman (Fall 2002 AGU, SH52C-03)
• Technology is or will be ready
• XML plus software tools become the new standard
  (the glue)
• A standard of behavior - share ones data with
  everyone
• The Virtual Solar Observatory is a path-finder.
• Activate/Energize discipline-based approaches to
  the evolution of the data environment.
• Distributed funding and implementation
  activities.
• Blend bottoms-up implementation approaches with
  top-down vision for the whole scope of an
  integrated data environment.

4
A Concept for the SEC/LWS Data Environmentvia
small boxes

• Virtual Solar Observatory
• Virtual Heliospheric Observatory
• Virtual Magnetospheric Observatories
• Virtual ITM Observatories

Services VxOs Analysts tools
5
A generalized data environment concept

• Data services
• Data online
• Searchable capability
• Dynamic - updates to existing services plus new
  services can be included
• The VxO broker mediates between the data services
  and data user
• Metadata library employing XML Schema as the
  standard
• Discipline-specific query engine
• Returns set of instructions to retrieve queried
  data
• APIs to analysis tools
• Logged searches would be cited and acknowledged
  in published articles
• The analysts work bench
• Accesses the VxO
• Software library of analysis tools, data
  manipulation and translation
• Some results can in turn become new or updates to
  the data services

6
Progress

• Data Services
• Sustaining a community attitude of making high
  resolution data on line.
• Taking steps in organizing data directories and
  metadata for remote query and retrieval.
• We have sponsored small grants programs for
  upgrading online data services
• The LWS program is initiating a metadata services
  approach.
• We are developing the concept for Resident
  Archives for managing data services after
  termination of a science mission.
• VxOs
• VSO is a mature prototype close coordination
  with the EGSO activities
• VHO is starting up - using SPASE as the reference
  data model
• VSPO is taking inclusive evolutionary approach
  adopted SPASE
• Several groups are studying concepts for VxOs in
  magnetospheric and ITM areas
• Developing NRA opportunity for new VxO
  developments Released in Feb 2005
• Analysts work bench
• COSEC is under development
• Evolving NSSDC/SPDF data analysis services
• Opportunities for new developments are advertised
  in AISRP, LWS/TRT, and elsewhere

7
Towards the futurewhat does NASA need from us?

• Keep up the good work!
• Continue to promote facilitate the universal
  data standard share your data
• Need to consider integrating of
  cross-disciplinary items
• Follow the paths and and lessons learned.
• Participate in our future research announcements.
• To foster and promote the elements of the SEC/LWS
  data environment.
• Promote research and technology for integrating
  the environment
• E.g., cross VxO interactions, data mining,
  grid-like features, etc.
• Adhere to the market principle are the
  fruits of our labors being used?
• Yes we will continue to support future
  operations and evolution
• No we will not!
• Use peer process as a means of gauging the
  market
• Get me some new graphics

8
Backup
9
The Virtual Solar Observatory

• Beginning prototype development
• Organized by the solar data services
• SDAC
• NSO
• Stanford
• Montana State Univ
• Small box approach but extensible
• See the Design Proposal and other info at
  http//virtualsolar.org

10
Think small box

• Limit the initial set of data services
• Place additional or future data services on the
  to do list
• Limit functionality and capability
• Focus on the core functions of data query and
  retrieval
• Share (publish) the schemata
• Schemata are referenced via registered URLs
• VxOs work w/ data services to create and maintain
  schemata
• Analysts work w/ the VxOs to create, debug and
  update the query engines and APIs
• Each VxO needs an associated software library of
  data manipulation and analysis tools
• E.g. SolarSoft library serves the solar research
  community